100 Percentile in CAT Exam; Know What 100 Percentile Means?

CAT score of 100 percentile is an ideal score but tough to achieve. On an average, only about 9-11 candidates score 100 percentile in CAT exam, out of over lakh test takers. So what does CAT 100 percentile mean? Read here.

100 percentile in CAT

100 percentile in CAT is a dream score. But only a handful can achieve it. CAT 100 percentile means that you are not only eligible for the top IIMs, you are in a position to choose from the best MBA colleges – IIMs as well non-IIMs. Every year only a handful of candidates score 100 percentile, despite many getting extremely well raw scores.

So, what does 100 percentile in CAT mean? It means that a candidate has performed better than all of the other test takers (2.50 lakh+). It may or may not be only the performance parameter, because if it were so, whoever got the highest CAT raw score would get 100 percentile, definitely. But it is not so, several other factors also matter. Also, since the CAT exam is conducted in three slots, the percentile is not calculated from raw scores but from scaled scores. To explain further, it is a representation of the relative performance of a CAT candidate compared to other test takers. Similarly, if a candidate gets 99.99 percentile in CAT exam, then their performance is better than 99.99 percent candidates.

What CAT percentile means? How to calculate?

To calculate every test taker’s CAT percentile, the examination authority, applies a formula. The CAT percentile of every candidate is calculated from their raw score. First of all, the raw scores of test takers across each session of the CAT exam are normalized to bring them on a common scale. The raw scores of the exam are then converted into percentile on the basis of the following formula:

P = (R/N) × 100

where,

P= Percentile score

R= Rank of the candidate arrived at on the basis of scaled CAT score or the total number of test takers ranking below a particular candidate.

N= Number of candidates who appeared in CAT exam (all three sessions)

Suppose, 1,000 people take CAT and once candidate scored 196 out of 198 (scaled score) and the rest 999 scored below 196. Then the CAT percentile of the candidate who got the highest raw score will be 999/1000*100 = 99.9.

Also Read:

• CAT 2026 result and scorecard download
• CAT cut offs: expected and previous years'

How Many Candidates get 100 percentile in CAT?

On an average, about 9-11 candidates score 100 percentile in CAT every year. Most of the CAT 100 percentilers are from engineering background. Check here some data points:

• In CAT 2025, the total number of 100 percentiler was 12.
• In CAT 2024, the total number of 100 percentilers was 14.
• In CAT 2023, the total number of 100 percentilers was 14.
• In CAT 2022, a total of 11 candidates got 100 percentile.
• In CAT 2021, a total of 9 candidates scored 100 percentile.
• In CAT 2020 as well, 9 candidates had scored 100 percentile.
• In CAT 2019, the number of 100 percentilers was 10.
• In CAT 2018, the total number of CAT 100 percentilers was 11.

Also Read: CAT percentile predictor

100 Percentile in CAT Exam: Admission Chances

Candidates who score 100 percentile in CAT exam definitely get interview calls from the top IIMs – IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta. 100 percentile is the highest CAT cut offs for PI shortlisting for these IIMs, for General category students.

If CAT 100 percentilers have a good academic record and they perform well in the WAT-PI rounds, are sure to get the final call for admission. Candidates having 100 percentile can not only get the top IIMs but they can actually get any B-school they wish. Being the top rankers with a good profile, every B-Schools will be willing to accept their candidature happily.

Does CAT 100 percentile help in admission to foreign universities?

No, candidates will 100 percentile in CAT cannot apply to foreign universities as the exam score is not accepted internationally. CAT is a national level exam and accepted by only domestic institutions.

Also Read: Top 30 MBA colleges accepting CAT score

CAT Score vs Percentile 2026 (Expected)

Given below is the table indicating conversion of CAT score into CAT percentile. These CAT 2025 expected marks vs percentile arrived at by calculating number of correct attempts.

Also Read: CAT Score vs Percentile 2026

Expected CAT Cut Offs 2026

CAT cut offs do not fall or rise drastically. They mostly remain the same every year, with may be a change of decimal points. Check the below table indicating expected CAT cut offs 2026 for IIMs and other to MBA colleges in India.

Read More:

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